Some of the most exciting radio controlled vehicles on the market today; radio controlled boats are creating quite a splash. The appeal is huge with this hobby, and it isn’t hard to see why. Electric radio controlled boats are amazingly fast, and the turns offer as much excitement as the latest Hollywood action flick. If you’re interested in getting started in this exciting hobby, it can be a bit overwhelming initially. This guide, though, should help.

Consider Your Area

One of the most important parts of owning a radio controlled boat is taking it out to play, but before you can even think about what kind of boat you want, you need to consider where you will use it most often. Do you live near a large lake? Are you close to a stream or a river? Do you simply plan to take it to your local pond? Thinking of using it in your backyard swimming pool? All of these are viable locations for radio control boats, but in addition to thinking about where you’d like to run it, you may also need to decide if you can run it in a certain location. For example, some public parks have rules against RC vehicles of any type, so if you’re not running it on your own property, check the laws in your area before you buy.

Understanding the laws and ordinances in your area is important, but thinking about the area’s size is equally essential. If you’re planning to use a small area like the duck pond at a nearby park, you need a much smaller boat. If you have more than a hundred feet to play with, you can buy a bigger, faster boat.

As you think about the size of the area, you should also think about the general water conditions. While they will vary from day to day, understanding what they will typically be like may help you choose the right radio control boat. If you’re more likely to be dealing with rough, choppy conditions while you’re on the water, you need to consider a boat that has a deep V or mono hull. If you will most often have calm waters, a catamaran or hydroplane style hull is a fine idea. This hull type, however, tends to be better for those more advanced with the hobby.